Sunroof Glass Seal Issue

[MacD87]

I recently purchased a 2020 Explorer ST. Love the vehicle exactly what I was looking but unfortunately the sunroof tempered glass exploded onme the first week of ownership.

I brought the vehicle to my local ford dealership and it has been nothing but trouble. They broke my pillars my light fixtures AC vents the track for the sunroof. Pretty much everything they touched was damaged. After several months of fighting them they finally replaced all the damaged parts and now we are finally back to the sunroof.

I made them bring out the hose and do a water test and the sunroof has a tiny drip at the seal where the gasket meets itself around the glass and ford says it’s normal that their sunroofs have a wet seal technology and it’s supposed to be a controlled leak.

can anyone confirm this ? I made them bring out another explorer to test with the hose and it doesn’t leak like mine but they insist that it is supposed to allow some drip that makes it into the trough.

[Update] below is a video of the other explorer they pulled off the lot that they state is leaking now but that was after I left. My vehicle is leaking in one specific spot and is a steady stream not a stagnant drop.

https://streamable.com/fnx368

 

[2020FordRaptor]

That sounds like a horrible dealer. It shouldn’t leak at all.

 

[MacD87]

Can anyone with a sunroof grab a hose and see if it slightly drips past the glass seal and post the video. it’s making it into the trough so it’s not leaking into the car but I feel like it shouldn’t have any amount make it past the seal it’s a brand new oem part and they said their oem parts vendor says this is normal and the seal is not bad and they won’t replace it because it’s meant to have small amounts come in that’s normal.

 

[MacD87]

Our roof systems use a wet seal type technology, which is designed to allow water in controlled volumes to get through and reach the trough that leads to the drains. This controlled leak system shouldn't allow water to leak past the trough to the seats, to the floor, etc.

If this is leaking into the troughs which feed the water out to the drains which exit the vehicle, then there is no issue to be repaired this is expected and desired behavior. If this is leaking into the seats/floors/passengers, then I'd suspect an alignment issues with the panels or there is an obstruction somewhere in the drain system.
WE ALSO SIT THE OTHER EXPLORER OUTSIDE THIS MORNING WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND HAVE A VIDEO OF WATER COMING IN ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE GLASS.

 

[Cruising68]

Never had it leak with just rain. I have felt water on the rare occasion I go through a car wash with a strong spray on the roof. Water can work its way around or under the seal hence the drains.


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[GomerPyleST]

All sunroof's leak some water they are not completely sealed (you can look it up on google) so he is not lying there. This is the very reason they have drains. I would just make sure all the drains are still connected up tight to the body/track/trough whatever and they are clear of any debris or grease from the install. It does look a little excessive in the video but I can't confirm this, however you might be able to just pull the seal forward a tiny bit all across the area making sure its even (unless its glued) and that might fix it. I had a hummer H3 about 6 or 7 years ago and its sunroof leaked and I found out one day my drain tube was clogged because when I went to back up it spilled water on the the wife. lol. Cleaned it out and never had a problem after that. If your drains are clear and working you should never know that there is water in there unless you stick your fingers up there.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Yes, it’s a wet seal. That’s why there's a trough around the perimeter with drains on all 4 corners. Some water passing is 100% normal.

 

[UNBROKEN]

That sounds like a horrible dealer. It shouldn’t leak at all.

Incorrect. Wet seals are the industry standard. Your door glass has wet seals also…hence the drain holes in the bottom of the doors.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Incorrect. Wet seals are the industry standard. Your door glass has wet seals also…hence the drain holes in the bottom of the doors.

I understand that, But it shouldn’t leak on the interior though. I’ve driven through a lot of intense weather, and all three of my 6g Explorers never leaked into the interior.

 

[Cruising68]

I understand that, But it shouldn’t leak on the interior though. I’ve driven through a lot of intense weather, and all three of my 6g Explorers never leaked into the interior.

Agree it should never leak inside under normal conditions so long as the drains are working properly.


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[UNBROKEN]

The OP has said nothing about it leaking into his interior.

 

[Ricky]

...

 

[Misheila]

Mine leaks. And I’m pissed. In the car right now trying to figure out where the waters coming from or if the drains are backed up. I live in cold wet country with no ford dealership…

 

[Misheila]

Yeah, it is just pouring out the back side of the drain trough. Great.

 

[Misheila]

Well, to get to the drains, the easiest way is to drive the sunshade back, remove the 3 screws on each side, slide the fixed panel forward, clean the track out and blow the drains out. To get to the drains from the rear wheel, get your 10mm out and a 6 or 7mm to take the screws out of the back side of the felt fender liners… there’s just a little black thing that is the drain. I blew it out and the water came out… now go clean the tracks and put it back together…. And never open your sun roof if you have any dust or debris of any sort around. Pissed me off. Ford couldn’t tell me that!?
they told me to shove a 2x4 in the overhead and pull the headliner down. Yeah… don’t do that. The good news is they are held up by rare earth magnets… super. Way more about my new ford product than I ever want to know or should ever have to. bull crap Ford. Yeah. I’m salty.

 

[powerboatr]

Yup..here spiders like to get into the drains at the bottom
Now when I wash the truck or explorer
I rinse really good around the sunroof corners and watch for water draining onto ground
On the truck, getting to drains is easy
I need to go look at the explorer bow